The Function of the Landscape Description in H. Rider Haggard's African Romance 'She'

Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7, University of Rostock, language: English, abstract: The description of landscape has a central place in Henry Rider Haggard’s writing of Africa. In his romances he achieved symbolical journeys into the land and its past. In that way he gave his books their power and popularity. But what are the peculiarities of his African landscapes? How has he constructed them? And what are their functions? In my term paper I am going to have a detailed look at these questions. I am going to start with an overview of the European image of Africa in the 18th and 19th century and how this had an influence on Haggard’s writing. My next section deals with Haggard’s stays in South Africa and how he converted these first-hand experiences in his romances. Then I am going to deal with the characteristic elements Haggard uses in order to draw his African landscape. Then follows an analysis of one of his most famous romances, “She”, according to these elements. Can all of them be found within the story? My last point is a summary of my individual results and I am going to draw a conclusion in which I try to answer the questions asked above.